Few hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday ordered the Department of State Service (DSS) to release the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele or charge him, the secret police has responded to the order.
Overtnews reports that the DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, in a statement issued said Emefiele has been charged to court following the order.
The DSS who confirmed the development did not state the allegations brought against the suspended bank chief before the undisclosed court.
“The public may recall that the Service had, in 2022, applied for a Court Order to detain him in respect of a criminal investigation,” Afunanya said in a statement late Thursday.
“Though he (Emefiele) obtained a restraining order from an FCT High Court, the Service, however, arrested him in June, 2023, on the strength of suspected fresh criminal infractions/information, one of which forms the basis for his current prosecution.”
The secret police assured the public of professionalism, justice and fairness in handling Emefiele’s case.
This news website earlier reported that Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court issued an order to the DSS to either charge Emefiele to court or set him free within one week.
According to the ruling by the judge, the suspended CBN governor can’t remain in detention without a formal charge which made it unlawful for the DSS to search for evidence against Emefiele while in detention.
The Judge noted that while the DSS has the power to carry out its duties within the ambit of the law – making arrest, detain and ensuring prevention of internal crime, he, however, said that such duties must be carried out according to the law.
